What is torture essay? Torture is the process of inflicting pain upon other people in order to force them to say something against their own will. In this essay, I will demonstrate why torture should never acceptable, not matter the condition.
Full Answer
What is torture?
What is torture essay? Torture is the process of inflicting pain upon other people in order to force them to say something against their own will. In this essay, I will demonstrate why torture should never acceptable, not matter the condition. From a moral standpoint, torture is wrong and unacceptable. Click to see full answer.
Is torture a controversial issue?
· In nearly every society torture has a negative connotation and it is usually referred to as any act of severe pain that can occur physically or mentally and it is usually occurred on an individual to obtain information, punish him, having general prejudicial feelings about him/her and etc (Sands). Torture is sometimes targeted to a group of individuals and it is also …
What is the ethical approach to torture?
· In the essay written by Kenny he states, "That torture is defined by what it is done for"(Kenny 14) and what I think he means is that torture is done either to gather actionable intelligence, a confession, extortion, or something else. Another difficulty in trying to define torture is because there are many forms of torture.
What is the psychological impact of torture on the individual?
· The Spanish Inquisition, on the other hand, was meant to discourage heresy, but in the end was simply the murder of many innocent people. During Medieval times, torture was used as a form of public punishment and, most dreadfully, as not only a deterrent, but also as entertainment. 3. Torture is absolutely immoral.
What is torture?
Torture is defined by UNCAT as any act where severe physical or mental pain and suffering is intentionally inflicted: to obtain information or a confession from someone. as punishment for an something someone has done or is suspected to have done. to intimidate or coerce someone. for reasons based on discrimination.
What is torture and why is it used?
torture, the infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering for a purpose, such as extracting information, coercing a confession, or inflicting punishment. It is normally committed by a public official or other person exercising comparable power and authority.
Why torture is morally wrong?
For instance, it is generally held that torture is defined in part as the deliberate infliction of extreme suffering and that – by virtue of this defining feature – torture is morally wrong. Note that even actions or practices that are inherently morally wrong might be morally justified in extreme circumstances.
What is torture example?
Most of the time, torture evokes physical suffering, such as beatings or electrical shocks, and sexual abuse, such as rape and sexual humiliation. Inhuman conditions in detention, including severe overcrowding and total lack of hygiene, or the denial of medical care, can also amount to torture or other ill-treatment.
What are the effects of torture?
People who have been tortured can have a range of symptoms, including:Headaches.Shaking or trembling muscles.Hearing loss.Vision problems.Sleeping problems.Anxiety attacks.Nervousness.Irritability.More items...
Why do humans torture?
The main motivations for this appear to be a fear of loss of status or respect, and the desire to be seen as a "good citizen" or "good subordinate". Peer encouragement: The perpetrator begins to accept torture as necessary, acceptable or deserved, or to comply due to the need to conform to peer group beliefs.
Why is torture a violation of human rights?
Torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment violate human dignity and are absolutely prohibited at all times and under all circumstances. Torture is the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical pain or suffering, by or with the approval of state agents.
What's another word for torture?
Some common synonyms of torture are afflict, rack, torment, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.
Is torture ever justified?
The prohibitions in the Torture Convention are absolute. “No exceptional circumstances whatsoever,” says Article 2, “whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.”
Is torture morally acceptable?
On a battlefield, there is a fundamental rule, both morally and legally, that one cannot harm those who are defenceless. However, torture necessitates the defencelessness of its victim and as such, it cannot be considered under the same moral and normative guidelines.
Is it morally permitted to tell a lie in order to avoid torture?
According to all three, there are no circumstances in which, ethically, one may lie. Even if the only way to protect oneself is to lie, it is never ethically permissible to lie even in the face of murder, torture, or any other hardship.
Is it objectively wrong to torture innocent babies for fun?
These truths are not dependant upon us or upon any changeable thing. For instance, “Torturing babies just for fun is wrong” is objectively true whether we believe it to be or not. Even if everyone was brainwashed into thinking that it is morally acceptable, torturing babies just for fun would still be wrong.
Can utilitarianism justify torture?
If the outcome of torture resulted in an increase in utility, then a utilitarian would be able to justify that action of torture. They look only at whatever maximizes utility, rather than what seems to be right or wrong, based on our own judgements.
Is torture appropriate in criminal investigations?
Torture may be appropriate with regard to specific crimes of torture, but that requires civil society to stoop to the level of barbarity of criminals. Investigative: On its face, torture would seem to have a valid tactical use in criminal investigations. In the U.S.
Is torture worse than murder?
Even for the crime of murder (without torture), the infliction of many tortures are worse than the crime. The moral justification for executing a murderer is much more obvious than the infliction of any punishment that is even worse from the perspective of the murder. Torture may be appropriate with regard to specific crimes of torture, but that requires civil society to stoop to the level of barbarity of criminals.#N#Investigative: On its face, torture would seem to have a valid tactical use in criminal investigations. In the U.S. It is strictly prohibited under constitutional principals, but purely practical issues also suggest that even aside from any moral basis of objection, torture may not be as useful in practice. Specifically, innocent individuals under torture (or even the threat of torture) often provide false information to spare themselves. ecent experiences with individuals questioned under questionable conditions approaching torture in connection with…
What is due process in the law?
Due process is built into the law to protect all, and deliberately so ; Sung implies, in fact, that the protections are likely in place to avert just such extreme eventualities. Then, Sung challenges the use of judicial warrants as an inherently contrary action, aside from the fundamental illegality.
How does Sung refute Dershowitz's claim?
Sung accomplishes the refutation by the simple means of refusing to allow Dershowitz to stand on his assumptions of what permits so radical a circumstance. For example, Sung directly addresses Dershowitz's claim that terrorists are not implicitly owed protection of human dignity rights by virtue of their activities. Dershowitz does make a compelling argument for this but, as Sung points out, he is not actually enabled to take such a position because the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments have already made that decision (Sung 202). Due process is built into the law to protect all, and deliberately so; Sung implies, in fact, that the protections are likely in place to avert just such extreme eventualities. Then, Sung challenges the use of judicial warrants as an inherently contrary action, aside from the fundamental illegality. To legally warrant torture is, in Sung's view, to "legitimize" the practice, and this is clearly a catastrophic…
What was the purpose of the Spanish Inquisition?
The Spanish Inquisition, on the other hand, was meant to discourage heresy, but in the end was simply the murder of many innocent people. During Medieval times, torture was used as a form of public punishment and, most dreadfully, as not only a deterrent, but also as entertainment.#N#3. Torture is absolutely immoral. No conditions or circumstances would ever justify such terrible actions towards a person's fellow human beings. No crime or offense merits the terror, pain and humiliation inflicted upon a human being. No purpose is high or important enough to justify such actions. Along with the rest of the civilized world, I most strongly condemn this form of punishment. While the focus here is torture today, I am particularly horrified by the concept of torture as entertainment. It is the deliberate infliction of severe and unbearable pain upon another human being for the entertainment of others. It cannot…
Is torture a preventative measure?
The other part of Levin's argument, that torture should only be used as a preventative and not a punitive measure, also fits into utilitarianism. Punishment and confession to past acts does not create nearly enough happiness or good to make up for the pain caused by torture.
Is torture an administrative practice?
However, in truth, such incidences are rare and hence based on this pretext there is every danger that torture might become an administrative practice. There is every possibility that torture might become a systemic abuse tool. Thus only if morally permissible conditions prevail can torture be pursued. Another popular perspective is that bringing torture under a legal prism would make it a more effective tool as officials would only recourse to torture if the case seems really justified. If torture is accountable, then it becomes more justified. [Henry Shue] However, as John Conroy writes, 'Throughout the world torturers are rarely punished, and when they are, the punishment rarely corresponds to the severity of the crime' [Sanford Levinson, pg 9]#N#The article by Kenneth Roth, the executive director of the Human Rights Watch clearly supports the view of the Sanford Levinson and Henry Shue by illustrating the gross abuse of torture.…
Is there a case for torture?
Torture Is there a case for torture? Throughout the world for many centuries torture has been a highly debated and very controversial topic. It all started in Greece when slaves would get tortured to collect evidence for trials, crimes against the state, and treason. Not long after, the Roman Catholic Church and the Nazis’ began to use torture as well. During this time witnesses noticed what was going on and did not agree with it but had no way of stopping it. All across the world, a group of nations
Is torture a crime?
Torture is a hugely controversial subject in our society today. Torture is defined as an intentional use of pain or abuse to gain an advantage over an individual. According to TheWeeklyStandard, torture is applied to prisoners or detained person to obtain admission of crime or to simply impose pain and suffering as a punishment (Krauthammer). Torture is also used to get information from the suspects by hurting them physically, mentally and emotionally. However, many argue that torture is against
What is the torture method?
The fear of drowning is something a lot of people have. With this being said, this story is based on a torture method called waterboarding. Waterboarding was thought of by members of the Special Forces. It was used in a training called SERE, which means Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape. The main things needed for this torture is water, and a board of course. This is where it gets the name waterboarding.
What is the definition of torture?
The United Nations definition of torture is contained in the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Torture is not an effective means of interrogation and does not yield useful or truthful information.
How does war trauma affect human needs?
Torture and war trauma also affect five basic human needs: the need to feel safe, the need to trust, the need to feel of value (self worth), the need to feel to close to others, and the need to feel some control over one's life. .
What is the threat of imminent death?
the threat of imminent death; or. the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality.
What is severe mental pain?
“severe mental pain or suffering” means the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from −#N#the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering;#N#the administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality;#N#the threat of imminent death; or#N#the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality 1 the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering; 2 the administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality; 3 the threat of imminent death; or 4 the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality
Why is torture wrong?
Torture is the process of inflicting pain upon other people in order to force them to say something against their own will. The word “torture” comes from the Latin word “torquere,” which means to twist. Torture can not only be psychologically but mentally painful. Before the Enlightenment, it was perfectly legal to torture individuals but nowadays, it is illegal to torture anyone under any circumstances. In this essay, I will demonstrate why torture should never acceptable, not matter the condition. From a moral standpoint, torture is wrong and unacceptable. Many religious people are against this act of violence because they see it as a violation of the dignity of a human being. Humans have the right to not have intentional harm upon
How long does torture last?
Torture has been carried out or sanctioned by individuals, groups, and states throughout history from ancient times to modern day, and forms of torture can vary greatly in duration from only a few minutes to several days or longer. (Torture, 2016). Torture is the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty. (Torture, 2016). Now that we have an idea behind the meaning of torture, we need to
Does Al Qaeda torture its detainees?
fact that the terrorist group, Al Qaeda tells its detainees to accept torture regardless of what happens to them in U.S (Harris). Al Qaeda knows America tries to hold their morals and standards very high and America’s greatest weapons are their freedom and mercy (Harris). With this type of policy in place, America will always have a weakness against terrorist groups such as Al- Qaeda (Harris). So, with the enforcement of torture warrants, there will be no weaknesses against any type of terror group
Who proposed the moral reasoning of torture?
John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant, both proposed different philosophies, using deontological and teleological theories in ethics. John Stuart Mill used a teleological theory, which prioritized the end result of an action, based off the moral nature of the action itself, compared to the deontological theory proposed by Kant, which
Is torture ever acceptable?
Is torture ever acceptable? According to the UN Convention Against Torture, any infliction of torture1 i.e. waterboarding is banned under international law and the domestic laws of most countries in the 21st century. The point of contention is whether torture under any circumstances should be entirely prohibited. This opinion piece will be centered towards the debate regarding interrogation using torture methods and argue that torture is never acceptable from the moral and utilitarian perspectives
Is torture a good solution to terrorism?
incisive strategy to fight it. Along this paper, I demonstrate that torture is not the right solution to respond to terrorism, whereas surveillance might be a better and acceptable proposal. Several scholars and politicians have either widely sustained or contested both issues. In my opinion, torture does not ensure success in fighting terrorism while it inflicts unbearable sufferance. I provide six arguments to demonstrate that torture should not be taken into account at all. They are related to morality
Methodological Arguments
Substantive Arguments
- Mercilessness Space here does not permit discussing the features of the contemporary American way of torture, which are the empirical basis for the arguments, in any detail. David Luban and I elaborated a number of features in the course of showing that McCoy’s “no-touch torture” can easily slip through the crude net of badly drafted US statutes that purport to prohibit torture, reve…
Sophisticated Interrogation
- But, someone is bound to ask, is all this not too confident? Is it not conceivable that if we never torture anyone, we will sonic day pay a terrible price because we will fail to obtain the only information that would have enabled us to avoid a catastrophe: sonic monumental act of terrorism, for example? This is of course simply one more variant of the ticking-bomb scenario: t…